A Selection of the Best Stores for Prog and Metal in London



Store Name

Address

Details

General Notes

Borders

Charing Cross Rd, London, W1

Tube Stop: Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Limited
Used Selection: None

Notes: Everything is arranged under Rock and Pop, but generally the selection is OK. Prices are expensive. Good selection of Rock/metal magazines.
Map:  here

Borders

Oxford Street, London, W1

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Limited
Used Selection: None

Notes: Everything is arranged under Rock and Pop, but generally the selection is OK. Prices are expensive. Good selection of Rock/metal magazines.
Map:  here

HMV

150 Oxford Street, London
W1D1DJ
Tel: 020 7631 3423

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Huge
Metal Selection: The Biggest Metal Selection in London on ground floor- around 14 racks of metal CDs. Also a good hardcore/Punk Section (about 4-5 racks)
Prog Selection: Mixed in with Rock and Pop - fairly comprehensive. They stock most of the catalogue of most Prog bands. There is the odd ommission - like Ayreon, but in general, the selection is good.
Used Selection: None

Notes: Probably the biggest record store in the UK. The Biggest metal selection by far on any of London's stores and reasonably knowledgeable staff. Good selection of Magazines, Tshirts, Metal Vinyl etc - as well as great Classical and video/DVD sections. Prices are expensive - top of the Range.
Map:  here

HMV

360, Oxford St, London
W1C1JN
Tel: 020 7514 3600

Tube Stop: Bond Street Tube
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Small dedicated section of popular stuff. (about 5-6 racks of CDs)
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: None

Notes: Medium-sized store in the middle of the shopping district. Very mainstream selection and though it has a small metal section, it doesn't contain anything out of the ordinary. Prices are expensive - top of the Range.
Map:  here

HMV

Trocadero Centre, London
W1D7DH
Tel: 020 7439 0447

Tube Stop: Piccadilly Circus
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Small dedicated section of popular stuff - Manson, Limp Bizkit etc to the fore. (about 6 racks of CDs)
Prog Selection: Some, mixed in with Rock and Pop
Used Selection: None

Notes: Useful for late night browsing. Small Metal section on ground floor. Small collection of Metal Magazines and collectors/boxed editions. Tourist Trap. Prices are expensive - top of the Range.
Map:  here

Jammin with Edward

399 Station Road, Harrow, HA1

Tube Stop: Harrow on the Hill
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Small section with reasonable range, sometimes containing bootlegs.
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: Lots. This is a 2nd Hand store

Notes: Some good T-shirts, decent 2nd Hand Metal CDs, the odd bootleg and some cool collectors stuff. Most 2nd hand CDs are about UK#8.

Mr Cd

Berwick Street, London W1

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Small. Prices are cheaper than the big stores, but the selection is fairly predictable - the big names and current big sellers. Sometimes the cut-outs contain some interesting gems. Overall Hit or Miss.
Prog Selection: Hardly Any - just the big names - Floyd, Genesis etc
Used Selection: None

Notes: Sometime has Metal promo disks - worth looking for obscure stuff. Lots of cut-outs and sale material. Prices are cheaper than the big stores, but this store is cash only and you have no comeback if the disk is defective.
Map:  here

Music and Video Exchange

229, Camden High St, London
NW17BU
Tel: 020 7267 1898

Tube Stop: Camden Town
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: Lots

Notes: Another Mixed-bag store. You might be lucky and find something worth having. You never know
Map:  here

Music and Video Exchange

38, 40 and 64 Notting Hill Gate + 28, Pembridge Rd, London
W113HT
Tel: 020 7221 1949

Tube Stop: Notting Hill Gate
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: Lots - Many shops in this area. Deals with all genres and formats

Notes: The area to go to, if looking for 2nd hand Vinyl and collector-type stuff
Map:  here

Music and Video Exchange

95, Berwick St, London
W1F0QD
Tel: 020 7434 2939

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: Lots - some classic NWOBHM vinyl, Metallica Picture disks etc

Notes: The selection here is a mixed bag. You will find old Maiden, Saxon, Metallica vinyls etc but not much else.
Map:  here

On the Beat

22, Hanway St, London
W1T1UH
Tel: 020 7637 8934

Tube Stop: Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Tiny selection of vinyl singles from the big acts of the 80s.
Prog Selection:
Used Selection: Specialist vendor of 2nd-hand vinyl. More 60's, 70's and 80's than anything else

Notes: Big collection of metal magazines and posters.
Map:  here

Reckless Records

26 & 30, Berwick St, London
W1F8RQ
Tel: 020 7437 4271

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: Lots

Notes: Sometimes has some interesting old 70's and 80's vinyl
Map:  here

Resurrection Records

228, Camden High St, London
NW18QS
Tel: 020 7813 2917

Tube Stop: Camden Town
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Dedicated Metal, Punk Industrial store
Prog Selection: Don't Know
Used Selection: Don't know

Notes: I've never visited this store. It is open seven days a week 11am to 5:30pm.
Map:  here

Selectadisc

34, Berwick St, London
W1F8RQ
Tel: 020 7734 3297

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Some, mixed in with Rock and Pop
Used Selection: None

Notes: Good place for T-shirts, Fanzines and obscure Indie Stuff
Map:  here

Sister Ray

94, Berwick St, London
W1F0QD
Tel: 020 7287 8385

Tube Stop: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection: Limited
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: Lots

Notes: Deals with lots of Obscure and rare Stuff. Check the website first
Map:  here

Steve's Sounds

20 Newport Court, London
WC2H7JS

Tube Stop: Leicester Square
Store Size: Small
Metal Selection:
Prog Selection:
Used Selection: Specialist vendor of 2nd-hand vinyl and CD.

Notes: One of those places where you might just find something interesting. Next to a sex shop and an outlet offering sexual services.
Map:  here

Tower Records

1, Piccadilly Circus, London
W1J0TR
Tel: 020 7439 2500

Tube Stop: Piccadilly Circus
Store Size: Huge
Metal Selection: Small dedicated section - about 6 or 6 racks of CDs.Some more obscure stuff.
Prog Selection: Some, mixed in with Rock and Pop
Used Selection: None

Notes: Large store, popular with tourists - especially since it is open until midnight. Large specialist departments for Jazz, Classical, World etc. Metal selection is good, but prices tend to be amongst the dearest in London. Sometimes interesting imports are available here. Huge selection of music and fashion magazines and fanzines - including some really bizarre stuff in the basement
Map:  here

Tower Records

162, Camden High St, London
NW10NE
Tel: 020 7424 2800

Tube Stop: Camden Town
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Hardly Any
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: None

Notes: Mainstream store. Do not expect to find much in the way of metal here.
Map:  here

Tower Records

62-64, Kensington High St, London
W84PE
Tel: 020 7938 3625

Tube Stop: Kensington High Street
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: ???
Prog Selection: ???
Used Selection: None

Notes: Medium Sized store in fashionable shopping district. Likely to stock only mainstream artists.
Map:  here

Tower Records

Unit 001b, Whiteleys Centre Queensway, London
W24YR
Tel: 020 7229 4550

Tube Stop: Bayswater or Queensway
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Hardly Any
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: None

Notes: Medium Sized store within small shopping mall. Tends to cater mainly popular tastes.
Map:  here

Virgin Megastore

14-16, Oxford St, London
W1D1AR
Tel: 020 7631 1234

Tube Stop: Tottenham Court Road
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: Decent sized Metal section on 1st floor (10 - 12 racks of CDs). Nothing really obscure. Prices are Top dollar.
Prog Selection: Mixed in with Rock and Pop - fairly comprehensive selection. You might discover interesting imports here.
Used Selection: None

Notes: Large store with good specialist classical and Jazz sections - also good selection of Magazines, Tshirts, DVDs etc
Map:  here

Virgin Megastore

Piccadilly Circus, London

Tube Stop: Piccadilly Circus
Store Size: Medium
Metal Selection: 8 racks in a combined Metal/Hardcore/Nu-metal section
Prog Selection: Hardly Any
Used Selection: None

Notes: Medium-sized store catering mainly for tourists. Open until Midnight, stock is limited and contains no specialist sections of any note. Sometimes has good selections of classic disks on sale very cheaply. Otherwise not really worth the trouble to visit.
Map:  here